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BABE RUTH |
WORLD CHAMPS AGAIN
The Red Sox split a doubleheader in Washington
June 21, 1915
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After romping home with the first game of a doubleheader against the
Senators, in Washington, by an 8 to 3 score, the Red Sox came within
one run of sweeping the doubleheader by tying up the game in the
ninth-inning of the second game, only to lose it in the 10th inning,
by one run, 6 to 5.
Babe Ruth held the Senators to only six hits in the first game while his
teammates made life miserable for three Senators pitchers. Harry Hooper led the
attack with a double and three singles in four times up. The final game was a
thriller, as Washington knocked Ernie Shore out in the third inning by scoring
five runs. Ray Collins came in to relieve him and pitched a great game until he
was substituted for by Herb Pennock and finally Carl Mays.
Joe Boehling started the second game for Washington and kept the Sox at arm's
length until the sixth inning, when they scored two runs, cutting his lead to 5
to 2. The Red Sox knotted up in the ninth after two were out. Tris Speaker was
on third and Duffy Lewis was on second, when Larry Gardner gave Clyde Milan in
easy pop up to field, but he dropped it. Before he could pick up the ball both
Speaker and Lewis were crossing the plate, as they were running on the pitch.
Gardner made it to second and then Hick Cady jammed a single into right field
that scored Gardner with the tying run.
In spite of his poor support, Boehling refused to quit and in the 10th inning
the Red Sox could do nothing against him. The Senators won the game in the
bottom half of that inning. Milan redeemed himself and singled to lead things
off. He was sacrificed to second and scored the winning run on Ray Morgan's
walk-off line drive base hit to right-field.
Jim Shaw opposed the Babe in the first game but did not survive the first
inning. Harry Hooper led off with a scratch single that got by George McBride.
Heinie Wagner drew a walk and Speaker tried to bunt him over. Shaw hesitated,
thinking he might go to third and by the time he threw to first, Speaker was
safe and the bases were full. Duffy Lewis then hit a weak ground ball in front
of the plate and Hooper scampered across with the first run. The catcher, John
Henry, picked up the ball and tried to nab Speaker at second, but threw it away
and allowed Wagner to score another run. That was it for Shaw and Bert Gallia
came into pitch.
The Senators managed to get one run back in the bottom half of their inning
without the aid of a hit. Danny Moeller drew a walk and went to second when
Wagner tossed out Kid Foster at first. Moeller stole third and crossed the plate
when Pinch Thomas' throw to Larry Gardner went wild. In the third inning, Gallia
started off with a pass to Lewis. Duffy stole second and scored on a single to
right by Hal Janvrin to put the Sox up by one.
Ruth was putting the Senators down as quickly as they came to the plate,
until the eighth-inning, when three singles in a row gave them two runs. Gallia
cruised along until the fifth when a pinch-hitter ended his day. The youngster,
Booth Hopper took his place and was roughed up in the seventh inning when the
Sox ripped it open and sent over four runs. The Sox got their last run in the
eighth when Ruth slammed one off the right-field fence for a double and scored
on Speaker's single.
In the second game the big crowd expected to see a pitcher's battle between
Shore and Boehling. Shore's downfall came quickly in the third inning. Every
ball he pitched was hit like a rifle shot to unguarded spots in the outfield.
Boehling started the rally himself with a single to center. Shore walked Moeller
and Foster lined a single to left, to fill the bases. Howie Shanks then slammed
one hard at Janvrin. The ball bounced off his chest and before he could recover
it, one run had scored and the bases were still full. Clyde Milan next lined the
ball over Speaker's head for a triple to clear the bases and then scored on
Chick Gandil's single to right, giving Washington a 5 to 0 lead.
Until the sixth inning, Boehling had only allowed two scattered hits and had
perfect control. But the Red Sox scored two runs when he started the inning by
walking Collins. Del Gainer followed him with a triple to right and on Speaker's
long fly ball to center, scored the second run.
Carrigan brought Pennock into the game in the bottom of the inning. Herb
blanked the side in the eighth and then came the big fireworks by the Red Sox in
the ninth to tie the game. In the 10th inning the Red Sox almost scored again.
Wagner singled to right with one out and after Speaker grounded out, sending
Heinie to second, Lewis was intentionally passed. But Hobby hit a lazy fly ball
to Danny Moeller in right to end that threat.
It was Ruth's first appearance against the Senators and he looked so good
that Carrigan was very pleased and will probably use him again against
Washington before the season ends. |
